To get a BCI check in Rhode Island, you apply through the Attorney General’s office in Cranston — either walking in with a photo ID or mailing a notarized packet. A state-level check costs $5 and a fingerprint-based national check costs $45. In person, a state check is usually done the same day; by mail, allow about two weeks.
Decide Which Check You Need
Rhode Island issues two kinds of BCI checks, and picking the wrong one costs you time and money.
A state BCI check searches Rhode Island criminal records only, using your name, date of birth, and ID. It’s the standard for most jobs, housing applications, and volunteer roles. Cost: $5.
A national BCI check is fingerprint-based. It searches state records plus federal and out-of-state records through the FBI. Certain licensed jobs require it by law. Nursing is one: under R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-34-43, a nursing license or nursing job requires both a federal and statewide criminal background check before licensure or hire.1Rhode Island General Assembly. Rhode Island Code 5-34-43 – Criminal Records Review Healthcare, childcare, and school jobs have similar requirements. Cost: $45.
If you’re not sure which type applies, ask the employer, agency, or licensing board that requested it.
What to Bring or Send
Every BCI check requires a valid photo ID. The Attorney General’s office accepts:2Rhode Island Attorney General. Get a Background Check
- A valid state-issued driver’s license
- A valid state-issued identification card
- A valid U.S. passport
If you’re applying by mail, you also need a signed and notarized release form, downloadable from the Attorney General’s website. Rhode Island notaries can charge up to $25 per notarization, so build that into your cost.
A national check by mail requires more paperwork. Along with the notarized release and a copy of your ID, you must include a completed fingerprint form, the “BCI Certification of Fingerprints” form signed by the agency that took your prints, and your actual fingerprint card.2Rhode Island Attorney General. Get a Background Check
Applying In Person
Walking in is the fastest option. The office is:
Attorney General Julius C. Michaelson Customer Service Center
4 Howard Avenue (corner of Pontiac Ave. and Howard Ave.)
Cranston, RI 02920
Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Fingerprinting for national checks stops at 4:00 p.m. State checks are walk-in only; no appointment needed. For a national check, you can book online through the Attorney General’s scheduling portal or walk in.2Rhode Island Attorney General. Get a Background Check
Bring your photo ID and a credit or debit card. State checks done in person are typically finished the same day.
Applying by Mail
For a state check, mail the following:
- A signed and notarized release form
- A copy of your photo ID (front and back for a driver’s license or ID card)
- A check or money order for $5.00, payable to “BCI”
- A self-addressed, stamped return envelope
For a national check by mail, include all the fingerprint documents listed above plus a check or money order for $45.00 payable to “BCI.”2Rhode Island Attorney General. Get a Background Check
Both go to the same building:
Rhode Island Office of the Attorney General
4 Howard Avenue
Cranston, RI 02920
For a national check, add “Attn: Fingerprint Dept.” to the address. Credit cards and cash are not accepted by mail.2Rhode Island Attorney General. Get a Background Check
Fees and How to Pay
- State BCI check: $5.00
- National BCI check (fingerprinting): $45.00
- Fingerprint card service only: $15.80. A technician captures your prints onto an FD-258 card and hands it to you.
In person, pay by credit or debit card. By mail, pay by check or money order made out to “BCI.” Cash is not accepted at all.2Rhode Island Attorney General. Get a Background Check
How Long It Takes
In-person state BCI checks are usually finished the same day. That’s the reason to make the trip if your deadline is tight.
By mail, the Attorney General’s office advises allowing 14 days for a state check, which covers mailing and processing. National checks by mail take about seven business days to process, on top of transit time.2Rhode Island Attorney General. Get a Background Check Including a prepaid overnight return envelope with tracking can shorten the round trip.
What Your Report Will Show
A state BCI report lists arrests supported by fingerprint records that led to a criminal conviction in Rhode Island, plus prosecutions still pending. Both misdemeanors and felonies appear. So do dispositions: guilty pleas, nolo contendere pleas, guilty verdicts, and deferred sentences.
A state report does not include:
- Arrests that did not lead to a conviction
- Federal arrests or convictions
- Criminal records from other states
- Records a court has sealed or expunged
A national check fills those gaps by pulling federal and out-of-state history through FBI databases. Every BCI report is stamped with the date and time of processing, and whoever requested it decides whether a report of a given age is still acceptable.
If Your Report Has an Error
Mistakes do happen. A disposition may not have been reported, or an expunged record may still show up.
For a state BCI report, contact the BCI unit directly and ask for the correction. You’ll generally need court documentation proving the error, such as a certified disposition or an expungement order.
For an error on a national (FBI) check, the process runs through the FBI’s Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division. You can submit a challenge electronically at edo.cjis.gov or mail a written request to CJIS in Clarksburg, West Virginia. Identify the inaccurate information clearly and include supporting documentation, like court records showing the correct disposition. The FBI contacts the agencies that submitted the original data and notifies you of the outcome.